Ayurvedic Management of Psoriasis

What Is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder wherein a patient's skin typically has red, itchy, and scaly patches. Sometimes, the patches are whitish. The types of psoriasis are plaque, nail, guttate, inverse, pustular, psoriatic, and erythrodermic.

What Are the Factors That Can Trigger Psoriasis?

The factors that can trigger psoriasis are:

• Stress.

• Smoking.

• Infections, such as strep throat or skin infections.

• Weather that is cold and dry.

• Injury to the skin, like a cut or scrape, a bug bite, or a severe sunburn.

• Heavy alcohol consumption.

• Rapid withdrawal of oral or systemic corticosteroids.

• Certain medications like lithium, high blood pressure medications, and antimalarial drugs.

What Are the Symptoms of Psoriasis?

The symptoms of psoriasis include:

• Rashes and red patches of inflamed skin are often covered with thick, silvery scales.

• Itchy, painful skin that can crack or bleed.

• Small scaling spots.

• Small areas of bleeding where the involved skin is scratched.

• Itching, burning, or soreness.

• Scaly plaques on the scalp.

• Thickened, pitted, or ridged nails.

• Swollen and stiff joints.

• The plaques will grow, join together, and cover large areas in severe cases.

• Discoloration and pitting in the fingernails and toenails.

• The nails may also begin to crumble or detach from the nail bed.

What Are the Complications of Psoriasis?

People with psoriasis also have the risk of developing:

• High blood pressure.

• Type 2 diabetes.

• Obesity.

• Cardiovascular disease.

• Eye conditions, such as conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and uveitis.

• Psoriatic arthritis causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in and around the joints.

• Mental health conditions, such as low self-esteem and depression.

• Other autoimmune diseases, like celiac disease, sclerosis, and the inflammatory bowel disease called Crohn's disease.

In allopathy (modern medicine), management of psoriasis is by topical agents, light exposure, immunosuppressants, etc. But, this treatment does not have a long-lasting effect. These procedures often develop resistance to the drugs, and the patient is always immunocompromised. As a result, the patient can catch any communicable infection very quickly. Moreover, these medicines never prevent after-effects of psoriasis-like psoriatic arthritis, sexual weakness, etc. If the disease is advanced in females, pregnancy is avoided in the modern medical system. However, Ayurveda has an answer to all this.

What Is Ayurveda Medicine?

Ayurveda is an ancient, holistic form of treatment that originated in northern India. It has been believed that good health depends on a healthy body, mind, and spirit.

It relies heavily on herbal remedies and living a healthy lifestyle, which includes:

• A healthy diet.

• Exercise such as yoga.

• Lifestyle changes.

• Meditation.

• Detoxification.

Ayurveda usually relies on the five basic elements, which include:

• Air.

• Earth.

• Fire.

• Ether (space).

• Water.

All these elements will combine in the body to form life forces called doshas. The three doshas are:

• Vata (ether and air).

• Pitta (fire and water).

• Kapha (water and earth).

It has been believed by the ayurvedic specialists that psoriasis results from unbalanced Vata and Kapha doshas. They think that toxins, stress, and too much of certain foods, like yogurt, seafood, and salty food, can also be blamed. Ayurveda specialists also say that meditation and the practice of Pranayama (a method of controlled breathing techniques) may be beneficial in reducing their psoriasis in a person.

In Ayurveda, it is regarded as one of the many types of Kushta rog, more precisely Eka Kushta or Mandal Kushta. Some of the ayurvedic scholars even co-relate it with Kitibha Kushta. The management of most skin disorders in Ayurveda is the same, with some variations according to the patient's disease and Prakruti (composition).

I am giving a generalized viewpoint of ayurvedic management for all types of psoriasis. Treatment may vary from person to person as and when needed.

1) Virechana:

To start with, ensure the patient's GIT (gastrointestinal tract) is cleared of all toxicity. In the case of psoriasis, Virechana is done at the beginning of the treatment to remove toxicity and ensure proper absorption of the drugs, which shall be administered later during therapy. Virechana can be done as Mridu Virechana, Madhya Virechana, or Tikshan Virechana as per the Agni Bala of the patient, which the doctor shall determine.

2) Shaman Chikitsa:

In Shaman Chikitsa, a lot of ayurvedic drugs can be used, ranging from blood purifiers to skin repairing agents. The doctor determines the drugs and the regime to be followed.

3) Raktamokshan:

Raktamokshan has tremendous results in psoriasis. It can be done every 15 days or as per need. After completing treatment and subsiding the symptoms, the patients need to continue with Raktamokshan every six months.

4) Bala Chikitsa:

Many Bala Chikitsa options are available in Ayurveda, ranging from Rasayanas to food and drugs. The Bala (strength) of the patient is increased after the completion of treatment to avoid future encounters with the disease.

What Are the Dietary Changes to Be Done to Treat Psoriasis?

The foods to avoid to treat psoriasis include:

• High-carbohydrate ingredients.

• Foods with large amounts of sugar.

• Too much sour.

• Too many acidic foods.

• Too much salt.

People undergoing treatment for psoriasis or any other disease should listen to their body by responding to the urges to urinate or defecate, which helps remove toxins from the body.

What Are the Herbs That Can Be Used to Treat Psoriasis in Ayurveda?

The herbs that can be used to treat psoriasis are:

• Aloe vera.

• Garlic.

• Black nightshade.

• Boswellia, or frankincense.

• Neem.

• Guggul.

• Jasmine flower paste.

People should get advice from their doctor before including any ayurvedic herbs in their regimen. Natural soothing oils, like coconut or olive oils, can be applied in a smaller amount on the scalp, elbows, and plaques to help soften and relieve the symptoms of itching and discomfort from psoriasis.

Conclusion:

Overall there is a huge success rate in Ayurveda regarding psoriasis. We have treated many patients suffering from this dreadful disease, and they are leading healthy lives now. Furthermore, according to a study, people who had diets that included vegans, paleo, high-protein, and low-carbohydrate saw improvements in psoriasis symptoms. Therefore, this proves that ayurvedic dietary choices are potentially healthy for people with psoriasis.